Panasonic Launches Lumix GF5 Micro System Camera

The Panasonic Lumix GF5 has a new high sensitivity sensor and 0.09sec autofocus

Panasonic has officially launched its Lumix GF5, a compact camera with interchangeable lens system. It expands the Lumix G micro-four-thirds camera range, building on the success of Panasonic's previous entry-level GF3.

On sale from June, prices start at £449 for the DMC-GF5 with the standard 14-42mm Vario zoom lens or approximately £579 with the 14-42mm Lumix GX power zoom lens. The UK model will be available in black or white. It has an aluminium body with a rubberised handgrip similar to the Panasonic GX1, and weighs 267g without a lens.At 0.09 seconds, Panasonic is claiming the “world’s fastest autofocus” with this new model – when using the H-PS14042 lens. It also uses a new high-sensitivity 12.1-megapixel Live MOS image sensor, improved Venus Engine with Multi-process Noise Reduction, HD video recording in AVCHD or MP4 formats and stereo sound, but there’s no external mic input.The camera’s 3in touch sensitive LCD improves on the GF3 by increasing the display’s pixels to 920k, and there’s a newly designed user interface. Being a beginner’s compact system camera, however, it lacks an optical viewfinder and hot-shoe mount. There is of course a built-in pop-up flash.There are a number of integrated digital filter effects that can be added to shots without having to use a PC’s photo editor. For novices, there are also the expected point-and-shoot features such as Intelligent Auto Plus (iA ) as well as a range of auto focus options and Scene Guides to help set-up shots the best way.

The Panasonic GF5 also offers aperture and shutter priority modes and full manual mode.